[9] Marble Statue

"Atticus, take Bentley and run." Damaris glanced over their shoulder. "Let me handle this."

Without saying a single word, Atticus instinctively nodded and rushed to Bentley's side. However, the moment he reached forward to help her up, she slapped him away. The slap itself wasn't as bad as the shock Atticus felt immediately afterwards. It was such a simple gesture, but it still left him trapped in another rush of silent heartbreak. So he remained completely still, stunned into silence as Bentley hastily buttoned up the front of her dress.